Today, Google is launching VERTICALS, which stands for Visually-Enhanced Real-Time Integrated Coordinated Aerial & Locational System, a new product that will take Google Maps & Buzz to the next level. Google VERTICALS harnesses the power of our feathered friends to bring real time images to the web.
“Here at Google we’re always thinking of innovative ways to enhance our products. VERTICALS allows us to improve both Maps and Buzz simultaneously. Each time you Buzz from your cell phone, if there is a bird in the area equipped with our special device, it will then be dispatched to snap a photo of the buzzer in that location,” says Google’s Chief Engineer, Mike Robins.
When asked about how they accomplish this task, Don Sparrow, another engineer on the VERTICALS team explains that they “have created a device called ‘Vuje4100′ that gets strapped on a bird which is in effect a stripped down cell phone that we’re able to have manufactured cheaply in China and is very lightweight. It consists mainly of a camera & GPS and communicates over regular cellphone networks. Since it uses very little energy it is solar powered. “Vuje4100″ also emits a small electrical charge to either side of the bird so that it will fly in the ordered direction that it is needed. This device has been PETA approved and does not injure or harm the birds in any way.”
Don continues, “When a user buzzes, we detect their GPS location, our server checks to see if a bird is near by and if so we direct it to fly overhead and the camera snaps an image in the process. While this is great for everyday use, we believe it will become an invaluable tool for covering breaking news and capturing events as they unfold.”
Google will be rolling out this feature today to Buzz in select markets and soon the images should also show up in Google Maps as images are captured from the birds all the time to give a “constantly updated Birds Eye View of the world”. While at first Google plans to only utilize Maps and Buzz for VERTICALS, they have announced that by the end of the first quarter of 2011 they plan to have this available for Facebook & Twitter as well.
Do you like the thought of Google Verticals and Vuje4100? Tell us what you think!
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nothing to see here
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no need to keep scrolling 
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seriously!
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Okay fine, April Fools!
